Brooks & Dunn, ZZ Top to Stampede

Brooks & Dunn were the first words to pop up as the Greeley Stampede Monday announced its acts for the 2005 concert lineup, and Linda Burgess shrieked like a 12-year-old.

The Greeley resident has seen the band nine times, all over the country, and she wears a charm bracelet with Brooks & Dunn right after the one that says, “I (heart) my son,” for her only child, 22-year-old Matt.

“He’s first,” Burgess said, “and then it’s Brooks & Dunn.”

But soon after Burgess’ shriek had rattled through the Swift and Co. headquarters, and not long after cheers and whoops and yee-haws for another big act, ZZ Top, subsided, groans of disappointment escaped the small group of followers.

Though Stampede officials are tantalizingly close to a contract, they had no announcement for the July 4 concert, which always competes for the Stampede’s opening night as the year’s biggest show in Greeley. Anyone could tell it was killing Lew Hagenlock, general chairman and also chairman of the night shows for the Stampede committee, not to announce a headliner. No act exists for the July 2 concert as well.

But one of the main reasons for the delay is something many concert venues around the country are struggling with — ticket prices. And the act the Stampede wanted just won a major award, which ups the demand and, consequently, the price to perform.

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The last couple of years have been a struggle, Hagenlock said, because most acts want guarantees now, not just a portion of the gate. Those guaranteed sums, Hagenlock said, have tripled since he began booking night acts five years ago. And yet the Stampede also wants to keep its reputation of getting top country-music acts.

Other venues can relate.

“It’s a double-edged sword,” said Lou D’Angeli, assistant general manager of the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland. “You want the big acts, but you know you’re going to have to charge a big price to get them.”

Ironically, that means the Stampede may make the least amount of money with the largest crowds because the acts that draw those record numbers now demand large paychecks, forcing the event to rely on concessions or parking to make anything.

The Stampede could charge more, as some venues such as the Budweiser Events Center do, but that would hurt the gates, Hagenlock said.

“Our ticket buyers would only choose one show,” he said, “and we’re trying to sell five shows, not just one.”

Budweiser doesn’t have such constraints, although officials there try to spread out the more expensive concerts such as Sarah McLachlan with truck shows that cost $12. Plus, D’Angeli said, ultimately ticket buyers in Weld and Larimer counties save money because parking, gas and the ticket fees won’t cost them nearly as much as a show in Denver.

Hagenlock is thrilled with the lineup. Brooks and Dunn aren’t as popular as the duo was five years ago, the last time the two played at the Stampede, and yet, Hagenlock still expects them to draw more than 10,000. And ZZ Top is hot once again after coming off this year’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Not only that, but Montgomery Gentry could headline but humbly agreed to open for ZZ Top, Hagenlock said.

And the Stampede signed Chris Cagle to headline July 3, continuing a recent trend of many smaller venues of booking a cheaper but strong up-and-coming act that may, in fact, be as big as anyone by the time the concert rolls around. That strategy paid off recently for the University of Northern Colorado with Maroon 5 and for the Frontier Days with Three Doors Down and Nickelback in successive years.

The Stampede could announce as soon as today the act officials are pursuing for the July 4 concert, but if the act’s price is ultimately too high, Hagenlock is confident the event will book someone exciting to watch.

“Even if we have to go to Plan B,” he said, “it will be a good night for us.”

All shows start at 8 p.m.

* June 24 — Brooks and Dunn with Katrina Elam and Josh Gracin.

* June 25 — ZZ Top with Montgomery Gentry.

* July 2 — Headliner to be announced with Dierks Bentley

* July 3 — Chris Cagle with Jimmy Wayne.

* July 4 — Headliner to be announced with fireworks immediately afterwards.

* Tickets go on sale today. The Box Office is in Island Grove Regional Park, 14th Avenue and A Street, Greeley, and is open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. with extended holiday hours in December. You can also call 356-BULL (2855), go through any Kings Soopers store or buy online at http://www.greeleystampede.org.